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V. CARANDINI. RACB STARTING MACHINE.

NO. 593,460. Patented NOV. 9,1897.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. V. CARANDINI.

RACE STARTING MACHINE.

No. 593,460. Patented NOV. 9, 1897.

INI/Enron l ATTORNEYS.

WTVESSES.'

UNITED STATES EEICE.

PATENT RACE-STARTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 593,460, datedNovember 9,1897. Application led October '7, 1896. Serial No. 608,158.(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LVIcToE CAEANDINI, residing at Calcutta, India, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Race-Starting Machines, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to that class of racestarting machines in which afence or barrier is mounted transversely to the track and associatedwith means for raising and lowering it, so that upon raising the barrierthe horses may pass.

The invention will be described hereinafter, and defined in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the gures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention. Fig. 2 is an elevationlooking from the center of the apparatus to one inner side. Fig. 3 is afragmentary perspective view illustrating the restraining-catch at oneside of the barrier, and Fig. 4 is a similarview illustrating therestraining-catch at the other side of the barrier.

The two posts 5 are planted, respectively, at each side of the track, asbest shown in Fig. 1. Each post is provided with a strut 6, consistingof two sections, the upper ends of which are secured to the sides of theposts 5 and the lower ends of which project downwardly and forwardly andafter being joined to each other are planted in the ground.

Fixed to the upper end of each post 5 is a frame 7. Each frame has twoparallel rearwardly-extending portions respectively lying against sidesof its corresponding post 5. The frames are removably clamped inposition by set-screws 8, one for each frame. Each frame is providedwith four laterally-projecting arms. The arms are arranged in two pairson each frame. The members of each pair are in longitudinal alinementwith each other, and the pairs are arranged in planes one above theother. The lower pair of arms on each frame is arranged at the front ofthe frame and the upper pair of arms on each frame is arranged at therear of the frame. On each frame the upper pair of arms has respectivelypivoted thereto the end portions of the rods forming the swinging arms9. The lower pair of arms on each frame has respectively pivoted theretothe ends of the rods forming the swinging arms 9. The swinging arms 9and 9a on each post 5 normally project forwardly from the posts. Thearms 9 and 9a of each post have the bars 10 and 1l, respectively,pivotally connected thereto by clips 12, the connection being effectedat the front extremities of the arms 9 and 9a or that point which isformed by the bending of the rods composing the arms 9 and 9a. Extendingacross between the bars l0 and 11 are ropes or cords 13, each rope orcord having one end fixed to the bar 10 and the other portion passingaround a pulley 14., xed to the bar 11. The ropes are capable of havingtheir tension adjusted by suitable locking devices 15. In addition tothe ropes 13 a rope 16 is connected at one end to a rope 17, actuated bya retractile spring 18 and carrying an arm 19, movable through a slot 2Oin the bar 10. The rope 16 is passed around a pulley 43 on the bar 10,and is provided near its other end with a link 2l, having an eye adaptedto receive the pointed end of an arm 22, rigidly carried on a clip 23,adj ustably secured to the inner member of one of the struts 6. Thepointed end of the arm 22 passes through an opening in the bar 11 whenthe parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4. The end of the rope 16,which is adjacent vto the link 2l, is permanently secured to the lowerend of the bar 11. Each of the two rods that forms the swinging arms 9nhas its inner end extended beyondthe frame-arm to which it is pivotedand pivotally connected with a rod 24, which rods work respectively incylinders 25, the rods having pistons and the cylinders being pivoted tothe inner sides of the respective posts 5. Springs 26 are connected tothe outer portions of the rods 24 and cylinders 25, and these springsserve to draw the rod 24 downward, while the operation of an air-cushionWithin the cylinder 25 prevents any shock that might be detrimental tothe machine. By this construction it will be seen that the barriercomposed of the ropes 13 and 16 and the bars lO and 11 may be lowered toan approximately vertical position across the track,

so as to prevent the horses from starting, and

also that upon the tripping of certain re-` straining mechanism,hereinafterdescribed,

IOO

the springs 26 will operate to raise the barrier to the position shownby dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 and allow the horses to pass.

The arm 22 is provided in its outer portion with a slot through whichthe lower end of a hook 27 is slidable, s uch lower end being providedwith a nut for holding it within the slot. A retractile spring 44 drawsthe hook 27 outward. A rod 28 is connected to the hook 27 and slidablyheld bya bearing 29 on the arm 22. Connected to the rod 28 and passingaround a pulley 30 is a cord 31, by means of which the restrainingdevices are tripped in the act of releasing the barrier. Pivoted to abearing 32, carried by the outer end of the arm 22, is an arc-shapedlink 33, which is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 4 by meansof the hook 27. Vhen, however, the hook 27 is moved to the positionshown by dotted lines in said igure, the link 33 will be free to swingoutward, as also shown by dotted lines in said gure. The link 33normally holds an orificed arm 34, pivoted to a projection 35, runningrearward from the lower portion of the bar 11. It will thus be seen thatupon the sliding of the rod 28 the link 33 and arm 34 will be disengagedand the means for restraining the upward movement of the bar 11 will berendered inactive.,

The inner member of the strut 6 not having the clip 23 is provided withan adjustable clip 36, similar to the clip 23, and having an arm 37running outward therefrom. Pivoted to this arm 37 is an orificedarm 3 8,normally receiving the end 39 ofV the lever 40. rlhe lever 40 is bent,as shown, and fulcrumed at itsbent end to a projection 41 runningrearward from the lower portion of the bar 10. The arm 19 islongitudinally slotted and receives the upper end of the lever 40,permitting said upper end to move through the slot of the arm.. Theupper end of the lever 40 is provided with a hook 42, which may serve,when the lever is not engaged with the arm 38, to engage thev arm 19 atthe forward eX- tremity of the slot thereof, for a purpose fullydescribed hereinafter. Vhen the link 38 is in connection with the end 39of the lever 40, the lever 40 is thrown to the position shown by fulllines in Fig. 3. The rope 16 prevents the spring 18 from moving upwardat this time, since the rope is connected to the bar 11 by the link 21.

Upon'the movement of the cord 31 the hook 27 will be caused to operateand release-the restraining device for the bar 11. This bar has amovement slightly independent of the bar 10, and when the restrainingdevice for the bar 11 is released that bar will move slightly and indoing so will push the link 21 from connection with the outer end ofthearm 22, causing the-normally slack portion of the rope 16j, whichslack portion is adjacent to the link 21, to become taut under theinfluence of the retractile springy 18. As` the spring 18 contracts itraises the arm 19 to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3,thereby releasing the lever 40. The parts 38 and 40 are now free to bedisengaged by the stress of the springs 26, which actuate the arm 9,that is connected to the bar 10. The barrier is now released, and thesprings 26 will operate to throw the same upward in a most rapid`manner. It will be understood that the aircushions within the cylinders25 serve to prevent a jar or shock to the apparatus which would be astrain on its construction.

A hook 45 is carried by each frame 7 and serves to hold the barrier inthe upper position by means of pins 46, respectively carried by thelowermost of each pair of arms, as shown with reference to one arm inFig. 2 and with reference to both arms in Fig. l.

In readjusting the apparatus for a second operation the hooks 45 aremanually released, and the barrier, composed of the bars 10 and 11 andthe ropes 13 and 16, is drawn downward manually. the arm 19 down farenough to allow the hook 42 to engage the arm at the Aforward end of theslot therein and to holdv the arm in this position. By these means theparts are put into position for more easily readjusting them when asecond operation is to be performed, owing to the fact that the force ofthe spring 18 is more conveniently overcome by drawing directly downwardon the rod 17 as contradistinguished from drawing horizontally on therope 16 at the bar 11. Then when the link 21 is to be connected with therod 22 but a very slight additional movement of the rod 17 will benecessary, which additional movement may be conveniently elected bydrawing on the end of the rope 16V at the bar 1l. The orificed arm 34is'formed connected to the link 33, which in turn is held by the hook27. The link 21 will have been previously disconnected from the outerend of the arm 22. It is next necessary to draw up the rope 16 a veryshort distance and connect the link 21 with the arm- 22, asr shown inFig. 4. This will move the arm 19 a short distance downward in the slot21. Upon this operation the strain on the hook 42 will be released,

y and the arm 38 may be swung outward to receive the end 39 of the lever40. The barrier will now be held across the track (seeFigs. 1

' and 2)y in position to restrain the passage of the horse.

When it is desired that the horses shall start, the starter draws on thecord 31, and this will move the hook 27 against thel tension of itsspring 44, causingthe arm 34 to be disengaged trom the link 33. Thismovement will cause the. disconnection of the link 21 from the arm 22,vand upon the* action of the spring 18 the arm 19 will move upward anddisengage the lever 40,thereby releasing the bar 10 from its connection'with the arm 37. Thebarrier will now start upward, and the race may beon.

It is not absolutely essential that the hook 42 be connected with thearm 19, as described.

Thenit is preferred to draw IOO The arm 19 and lever 40 may, if desired,be left in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 until it isdesired to readjust the parts for another operation. In this event thehook 42 performs no function.

In practical operation it will be desirable to plant the posts 5 andstruts 6 at many places throughout the length of a course or track, butit will not be necessary to provide more than one starting apparatusproper. This apparatus may be readily transported and connected with theproper posts when desired. For this purpose the clips 23 and 36 and theframe 7 are provided with removable connections in the form ofset-screws. The cylinders 25 are also removably connected with the posts5.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. In a racefstarting machine, the combination of abarrier having two bars and a flexible connection between the bars, aspring tending to raise each bar, a lever fulcrumed on one of the bars,a spring-actuated sliding arm normally holding the lever, a rigid arm,an oriced arm fulcrumed to the rigid arm and normally engaging thelever, whereby the bar to which the lever is fulcrumed is restrained, asecond rigid arm, a hook sliding on the said second rigid arm, a linkpivoted to the said second rigid arm and normally held by the hook, anoriiiced arm pivoted to the remaining bar and normally receiving thelink, a flexible connection attached to the said sliding arm and servingto hold the same normally engaged With the lever, and a link attached tothe connection and normally connected with the second-named rigid arm,and disengaged from the said arm upon the sliding of thehook,substantially as described.

2. In a race-starting machine, the combination of a spring-actuatedbarrier, an oriiiced arm pivoted to the barrier, a stationary arm, alink pivoted to the stationary arm and normally holdingthe orilced arm,and a hook sliding on the stationary arm and restraining the link,substantially as described.

3. In a race-starting machine, the combination of a spring-actuatedbarrier, an oriiced arm pivoted to the barrier, a stationary arm, a linkpivoted to the stationary arm, a hook having a sliding connection with aslot in the stationary arm, a slidable rod connected to the hook, and aspring acting to draw the hook toward the link, substantially asdescribed.

4. In arace-st'arting machine, the combination of a spring-actuatedbarrier having a slotted bar, a spring-actuated arm movable through theslot in the bar, a lever fulcrumed. to the bar, and normally restrainedby the le' ver, a stationary arm, an oriiiced arm pivoted to thestationary arm and normally connected with the lever, and means fornormally holding the sliding arm in connection with the -lever,substantially as described.

5. A race-starting apparatus having a barrier formed of two bars withflexible connections and slight independent movement, a restrainingdevice for each bar, means tending to lift each bar, and a flexibleconnection attached to the one bar and to the restraining Y and totherestraining device of the-second section, the said connection beingcapable of tripping the restraining device for the said second sectionas the said first section moves upon being released by the restrainingdevice therefor, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of two witnesses, this 27 th day of August,

VICTOR CARANDINI. lVitnesses:

R. E. MAY, H. A. PORTER.

